Three Generations, One Community: The Impact of Sesame 3G Mentoring
By John Wu
“The 3G Mentoring Project made me feel connected, seen, and valued, and reminded me that I still have an important role to play”, says Maria Parilla, an older adult participant in Henry Street’s collaboration with the Sesame Workshop Alumni Network. “Helping each other across generations is such a beautiful feeling. It made me feel very young again.”
This three-generation mentoring project was created by the alumni network—all former employees of Sesame Street—to address increasing isolation and disconnection among generations. Over the past year, Henry Street completed a fifth cycle of participation in three years, bringing the number of participants to more than 70.
The mentoring project brings together older adults, young adults, and preschoolers over eight-week periods to foster meaningful connections while instilling skills and expanding perspectives. Each cohort includes five older adults from our Older Adult Center, who mentor five young adults from our Community Response Team, who mentor five preschoolers from our Early Childhood Education program. The groups are broken up into three-generation triads, who converse, watch Sesame Street-based videos, and build friendships with one another. What makes Henry Street’s model unique in the 3G program is that participants are drawn directly from our own community programs, strengthening connections across the community.
The most recent cohort felt especially meaningful because Timothy Davis and I—young adult mentees in 2024—returned as facilitators. Several older adults returned as well. This year’s young adults stepped into leadership roles with intention and care. One young adult participant, Jeremy Goris, set a welcoming tone by greeting older adults and toddlers by name and guiding each session creatively. Older adults met his energy with their encouragement and storytelling. Together, each triad created a space where leadership was shared, and every generation felt valued.
Some of the most powerful moments happened beyond the eight scheduled sessions. On the streets of the Lower East Side, toddlers began to recognize their older mentors—waving, running to them, and reaching for high-fives and hugs. Parents have shared that their children still talk about their mentors long after the cohort ends.
Melody Lai-Nguy, parent coordinator for Henry Street’s Early Childhood says, “Sesame 3G has helped preschoolers feel more comfortable around seniors and teens. One child built such a strong relationship with a mentor that the family invited him to a school birthday party. Another parent shared that her son had opened up to an elderly woman on the subway because she reminded him of the senior he spoke with every week.” Toddlers leave feeling empowered and eager to connect, regardless of age.”
“Sesame 3G allowed me to build genuine connections across different generations. It is the kind of experience that stays with you and makes you want to come back.”
For young adult Sabrina Garcia, “Sesame 3G allowed me to build genuine connections across different generations. It is the kind of experience that stays with you and makes you want to come back.”
My involvement began in 2024 through my involvement as a Community Response Team intern at Henry Street. As a mentee, I realized how different and challenging it can be to engage with a toddler. While working with a preschooler named Gracelyn, I attempted to help her shape something out of Play-Doh. She put my piece aside and confidently created her own design. That experience taught me: connection is not just about sharing knowledge; it’s about meeting people—even small children–where they are.
Now, having participated in three cohorts with my colleague Timothy Davis, I’ve strengthened my public speaking skills, developed program coordination experience, and built meaningful relationships across generations. After five cohorts at Henry Street, one thing is clear: When generations integrate intentionally, the impact multiplies. Sesame 3G is more than a program; it’s an intergenerational community, built together, where connections last.
